Hello Dear readers, this is a trying time for Johnny and Adam. They are headed home but the fight is far from over. Home for them is only 45 miles North of Vicksburg. Please E mail me your Comments and idea's. Also I am looking for a editor to help me out in some areas of the story. as always my E-Mail is Swarri1349@aol.com thanks, Stephen
Chapter 3
The Journey Home
Johnny was brought out of his deep memories by a deep rumble from North of town. The guns of Fort Hill, South Fort and the other river batteries were opening fire on the Union Ironclads and steamers. Oh how Johnny wished this God Damned war was over he wanted to scream. He heard a light moaning coming from the cot and saw Billy was stirring a little he tried to sit up but couldn't. Johnny took his hand and eased him back down on the cot and washed his fevered face with cool water. Billy motioned that he wanted a sip of water so Johnny eased the tin dipper to his lips and let the water ease down Billy's throat Johnny eased Billy back down on the cot and made a decision. He would take Billy to Holloman house once more to take care of him. Billy soon was once more a sleep on the cot and looked peaceful the wound had stopped bleeding so maybe there was hope. Billy needed to eat but there was limited food stuffs coming into town and most of that was going to the fighting men on the front lines.
Johnny walked outside into the cool night and listened to the heavy guns firing it never seemed to stop. The citizens of Vicksburg were beginning to understand what "TOTAL WAR" meant they began to understand what the people of Virginia all ready knew by heart and a end to whole damned thing was no where in sight for either side. Johnny walked down the street thinking to himself. When someone bumped into him he looked up it was Adam. He grabbed the boy before he could move on he seemed to be in a rush.
"Whoa slow down Adam."
"Johnny is it you?"
"Yeah it is me."
"Oh thank God it is you. How is Billy? Are you with him? What did the doctors say about his condition?"
Johnny pulled Adam into his arms and off to the side of the street "ok, ok one at a time."
"Billy is not well he was shot in the chest close to the heart. Yes, I am with him. The doctors told me he would die because they can not reach the bullet, but I believe we can save him but we must move him to Yazoo County and Holloman house."
"So when do we move him? Asked Adam.
"In the morning." I have a plan to get a horse and wagon and I was headed that way now if we can get it tonight we leave tonight in fact it would be much better less people to see us leave the better. They walked back out into the busy street and headed towards the stables on Levee Street to buy a horse and wagon and if they could not buy it they would steal it one way or the other Billy was going home to rest. They soon made it to the stables and they knew they were close just by the smell of the horses and of the horse shit that filled the air. An old man walked out to greet them.
"Evening Captain evening son."
"Evening Sir". Replied Johnny and Adam.
"How may I help the Confederacy's best tonight?" asked the old man.
"We need to buy a horse and wagon to take a friend home to Yazoo County he was wounded at Chickasaw bluff in today's fighting".
"Many mighty brave lads died today in that fight replied the old man".
The old man looked around and said. "I got a horse and wagon and you can have it for $10 dollars in gold coin".
Johnny smiled "Thank you Sir" and reached into his pocket and pulled out two heavy gold coins and a smaller one and handed them to the man. The man took the coins and placed them in his pocket "the wagon is around back and I will get you the horse".
Johnny smiled at "Adam looks like we got us a ride home." They walked around back to look at the wagon. The wagon was in fair shape it had seen it's share of hard labor and heavy loads but looked strong enough to make this trip. With it's precious cargo of human life. The old man brought the horse around and they hooked him to the wagon. The horse was a healthy beast at least and gentle. Once again the boys thanked the man and waved goodbye as they pulled onto Levee Street then up the hill to Cherry Street. Johnny eased the wagon in front of the Brick house where Billy was inside. Orderlies saw the two boys pull up and walked out to meet them.
"What you boys got in that wagon?" one asked.
"Nothing right this minute."
"Then what do you want? Asked the other man."
"We're here to pick up the Yankee and carry him to Yazoo County to be with his kin folks before he dies."
"Oh" replied the man.
"Waste of time as we see fit, he's going to die no matter what Southern lead does that to a man you know."
Adam saw the pained look on Johnny's face but did not say anything. Johnny and Adam walked inside and found the doctor and told him that they wanted to move Billy home so he could be in peace. The doctor agreed and told several orderlies to take blankets and other soft items and line the wagon bed so he would be in as much comfort as possible for the long trip North. Then the doctor pulled Johnny and Adam a side and asked them. "He means a lot to you don't he."
"Yes Sir he does he is a very good friend of mine and when he dies I want him to be among friends."
"I see" replied the doctor.
"Here take this morphine and stomach salts these should help him rest, I would give you more but as you know we are in short supply as it is."
"Thank you Sir" the boys replied and helped the orderlies carry Billy to the waiting wagon. They placed him on the blankets and pillows made of sacks of duck feathers and straw and covered him with some more blankets to keep the night chill away from him. Adam climbed in back with Billy and began to leave the city. The men at the hospital wished them good luck and God Speed as they rolled down the brick street to the North. Soon they came to the picket lines of the Confederate forces and with a slight pause they passed through the lines. Billy continued to sleep deeply thanks to the morphine and Adam was relieved. The horse made good time and Johnny did not push him to hard and soon they were on Bell road and begin to climb into the foothills of Walnut hills as the area was called. The old road was rutted and badly maintained.
The wagon jolted along and bumped along the ruts at a slow steady pace. Johnny knew it would be a long night a head. He looked back and saw Adam crying softly holding Billy's head him his lap. "Don't worry Baby he will be ok, let's get him home and we will take care of him. Then we will get momma Sallie to take care of him with her medicines and herbs and he should recover just fine."
Adam smiled " it has been so long since you called me baby but it feels so good to hear it coming from you. Johnny I love you so much." Adam wiped the tears from his face and held Billy tighter and prayed softly to a God he hoped that had not abandoned the South and the World because of men's foolish ways and damned wars.
The oil lamp put a feeble light in front of them and it displaced the darkness of the tree-lined road. But nothing could displace the darkness in his heart caused by the worry of Billy's condition. The slow clop, clop of the horse's hooves and the sounds of the night surrounding them and the creaking of the wagon wheels were all the sounds he heard. Johnny looked over his shoulder and saw that Adam had fell asleep against one of the straw pillows lining the wagon. Still cradling Billy's head in his lap. Soon Johnny drifted off to sleep at the reigns but the horse continued his pace north with three sleeping boys in his care like an old master. They all dreamed of different things but one thing was in common was that the dreams were restless like the countryside around them. Adam was the first one to awaken he looked up and saw Johnny sleeping slump over in the bench. He carefully placed Billy's head on the pillows and climbed up and over to the bench seat and sat down beside Johnny and took the horse's reigns. The horse flicked his ears and snorted as if to say " we're going to make it young master we're doing just fine" and continued his slow trot down the road into the darkness ahead. Adam began to recognize some of the landmarks in the gloom of the night and knew they were in Yazoo County finally. He saw the Green Plantation house gleaming in the dark and knew only 5 more miles to Holloman house and a warm bed. Adam gently woke Johnny and pointed out Green plantation and smiled. Johnny hugged Adam " so my sweet boy we're almost home." They glanced back and looked at Billy's fevered face but he was sleeping peacefully they could hear his breathing and knew he was ok. Soon they came to the forks of the road and Bend road leading to Holloman house on the Big Black River. They looked left and could faintly make out the stores and churches of Phoenix in the distance. They horse was lead onto Bend road and continued his pace Johnny made him speed up just a little and the horse replied with a snort as to say "yes master I know we're almost home." The last two miles passed quickly with Adam leaning on Johnny and looking at the well-known sites of the outer plantation grounds. The slaves saw the wagon and halted it about a half a mile from the main house and once they realized it was their young master. They were glad to see him but frowns lit their weather beaten faces when they saw Billy in the back wounded. The slaves followed the wagon to the main plantation house and John Sr. raced to the door when he saw his son and the young boy that he adopted as his own several years back but why were they home in a broken down farm wagon. Sarah John Sr.'s wife and Johnny's dear mother came and stood beside her husband with a look of deep concern on her face. The boys climbed down off the wagon and Sarah grabbed her son and hugged him close and then she hugged Adam.
"Why are you boys home from Vicksburg?" Asked John Sr.
" Father, it is Billy he was wounded at Chickasaw Bluff in the fighting and I found him wounded on the battlefield and got him to the hospital in Vicksburg but the doctor's told me he might not live. I did not want to trust that doctor since Billy is wearing blue they would rather just kill him or let him die."
"Oh dear God, not Billy!" Sarah raced to the wagon. John Sr. was beside her before either boy realized he had moved from the front porch of the house.
"We must get him inside now and call Doctor Hancock." John Sr. ordered four of the house servants to carefully carry Billy inside and up stairs to his room on the 3rd floor of the house. The 4 men carefully unloaded and eased Billy through the big oak door and inside the house then following the candle of Sarah up the stairs to the bedroom. Sarah quickly turned down the covers of the bed and quietly stepped out so Johnny and Adam could remove what was left of Billy's uniform. Once Billy was undressed and covered from the waist down. Sarah once again moved in the room carrying a pitcher of water and some clean linen for Billy. They heard the horse and knew that John Sr. was headed to town to get Doctor Hancock as quickly as possible. They all knew that John was an expert horseman and would be there before any one else had gotten started. They carefully peeled the blood soaked bandages away from the wound and thankfully it had stopped bleeding. Sarah had ordered one of the housemaids to put on some water to heat so they could clean Billy and so that Johnny and Adam could cleanse also before retiring for the night. Billy began to stir as the morphine slowly wore off and he opened those sparkling blue eyes.
"Where am I he said softly and with effort".
"Your home Billy" said Johnny.
"Baltimore?" asked Billy.
"No Holloman house" and Sarah brushed the hair out of his eyes. Billy smiled, "Mother Sarah is that really you or am I dreaming still?" "
Yes my dear boy it is me, Mother Sarah" A smile formed on Billy's face but he still did not see Johnny and Adam in the corner smiling.
"Mother Sarah who brought me home I was dreaming that Johnny was at the hospital and him and Adam brought me home with dear sweet Adam holding my head all the way, but I know it was a dream wasn't it."
Johnny and Adam walked over and smiled do we look like a dream Billy?" asked Adam.
"If we do you better wake up because we look like nightmares dusty and ragged nightmares."
Billy smiled he said "not nightmares but a Saints who have fallen on hard times up stairs." Johnny, Adam and Sarah all laughed. Billy coughed and turned pale in the face as the pain in his chest increased slightly. Sarah was beside him wiping his face " don't worry John has gone to fetch the doctor and they will be here soon."
As Billy was waking in the plantation house. John Sr. was racing his horse through the woods he did not take the road but the quickest way he knew through the trails saving time. He raced down the main dirt street and up to Doc's house and knocked on the door.
"Just one moment please said the soft voice of Mrs. Hancock and she opened the door. "Hello Mr. Kingston"
"Good evening Mrs. Hancock is Doc. around I need him quickly"
"HERBERT", called Mrs. Hancock Mr. Kingston needs you now."
The big frame of Herbert Hancock walked through the door. Herbert Hancock stood about 6'4" and weighed 200 pounds he was slightly balding and what hair he had left was snow white.
"Hello John, how can I help you tonight?"
"I need you to come with me it is Billy. Johnny and Adam brought him in just moments ago he was wounded in the fighting at Vicksburg."
"Oh dear Lord not the fine young lad from up North. I thought he would be up North fighting for the Damned Yankee's."
John knew he could not tell the whole truth about Billy being wounded.
"No Sir, he stayed behind and was with Johnny when a mini ball hit him in the chest."
"Let me grab my bag John would please saddle up my horse and we will be on our way."
John rushed outside and placed a saddle on the doctor's horse and soon Doc Hancock was ready with his bag and bottles of medicines. The two men galloped out of the yard and headed for Holloman house as fast as the horses would run.
Sarah had moved Billy's uniform and hid it she did not want Doctor Hancock to see it. It might mean trouble. Doctor Hancock was a fire- eater and hated everything to do with the North and it's people except for a few. Billy was one of them any friend of the Kingston's was a friend of his. Sarah did not want to take the risk anyway.
They soon heard the horses galloping up the drive and the Slaves grabbing the reigns as the two men climbed down and ran into the house and up the stairs. Doctor Hancock looked over at the pale face of Billy "oh my" but was relieved that he did not see any blood from the hole in Billy's chest. He listened to Billy's heart and his breathing, felt for a pulse and it was strong. Then opened his bag and removed a metal device that looked like a long pair of scissors that were very sharp on the end. He looked around the room and asked that Sarah step out and for John Sr. to come over to the bed. Then Doc reached into his bag and brought out a small metal canister.
"John hold this linen cloth over Billy's face and sprinkle a very fine mist of this ether powder onto it this will keep Billy from waking up and causing any more damage to the wound area."
John Sr. placed the cloth over Billy's face and began to sprinkle the fine strong smelling powder onto it. Billy's breathing began to calm down and smoothen out as he drifted into a deep sleep. Doctor Hancock then removed an iodine solution from his bag and began to swab Billy's chest around the wound to kill the infection. Johnny was watching every step of the procedure until he looked over and saw Adam. Adam was pale and exhausted with out saying a word Johnny picked the boy up and carried him out of the room and quietly closed the door.
"Johnny I wanted to stay" protested Adam.
"No young man you need your rest and to clean up". Johnny carried Adam a few doors down to his room and sat Adam on the big feather bed. Johnny stripped off Adam's worn shoes and woolen socks then his butternut trousers and great coat. Then he unbuttoned Adam's undershirt and pulled it off. The smooth young flesh greeted him like always Adam was now 19 teen but he had lost none of his boyhood charms light hair surrounded his nipples but everywhere else he was still smooth as the finest silk. Then Johnny unbuttoned Adam's trousers and pulled them away. Adam's dick greeted him and his balls had a little more red hair around them but not a lot his legs were still smooth for the most part also. Johnny took a cloth out of the warm water sitting beside the bed and began to wash Adam. Starting with Adam's face he scrubbed away the dust the grime and the tear stains from that wonderful boyish face, then he cleaned his neck and wiped Adam's chest circling the golden ring on Adam's nipple. Adam let out a low moan. Johnny continued to wipe Adam's chest and stomach cleaning away the grime and sweat. Then he continued down to Adam's waist and wiped some more brushing Adam's soft cock. Johnny took Adam's cock and began to wipe it down and slowly it grew hard until it was at its full 7 inches of hard glory. Johnny then scrubbed the boy's balls and dipped the rag again into to water and worked on Adam's legs and feet until they were clean and white again. Johnny stood Adam up and pulled a linen sleep shirt over the boy's head and shoulders. Turned Adam around to face him and kissed Adam full on the lips "my boy it has been to long since had a chance to do that to the one I love the most in this life" whispered Johnny. Johnny then placed Adam in the big bed and pulled the covers over him.
Then he walked out the door and back towards Billy's room and stepped in the room. John Sr. and Doctor Hancock were still working on Billy both men were covered in sweat and Doc. Hancock had blood on his sleeves and arms. His medical instruments were covered in Billy's blood. "Ok, John ease up on the ether, I have located the bullet and now is the most dangerous part is getting it out with out damaging any more tissue or causing uncontrollable bleeding on the inside". Neither man heard Johnny slip in exhausted but still he could not leave his friend his soul -mate alone. Johnny's eyes were red and puffy begging for sleep and it was now well past mid-night but Johnny refused to rest to even close his eyes for a minute. He walked over to the bedside and grasped Billy's hand and gently held it. John Sr. and Doc Hancock looked over briefly and saw Johnny's haggard looks and puffy eyes but neither could tell the boy to go to bed it would do no good because they knew he would not leave the room again not until he knew Billy was safe. Slowly doc. Hancock moved back over Billy and took his long gleaming instrument and began to probe inside Billy's chest Johnny watched then had to turn away as the metal turned red. John Sr. looked at his son and for the 2nd time since the boy had turned into a man saw tears flowing down Johnny's cheeks flowing like a river of sorrow trying to wash away the pain. After what seemed forever to Johnny but actually was only two hours Doc. Hancock stood up dropped the mini ball into the wash basin and sighed relief. He had removed the bullet and the tissue was still intact around the area. Johnny was relieved but knew that Billy was not out of woods yet. There still was the chance of infection and complications and long process of healing. John sr. put the ether down a removed the linen cloth from Billy's mouth. They began to wash the area free of blood and iodine solution. Doctor Hancock began to bandage the wound area with gauze and very thin linen so the area could breathe freely. They covered Billy up with blankets blew out all the candles except one near the bed. One of the servants took the basin of water out of the room doctor Hancock and John Sr. stood up and was beginning to walk out of the room and they looked back and saw Johnny John told Doctor Hancock to meet him in the library in a few minutes. Doc Hancock walked out of the room and said a small prayer to himself and to God. John Sr. a big man by any standard and one not to piss off no matter what the situation was slowly walked to his son and picked him up in his arms and carried Johnny to the room down the hall and placed him on the bed. Then called one of the man servants to clean the boy up and place him in bed for the night. The servant walked in and did the job quietly and quickly then placed his young master in the bed beside Adam. Johnny dreamed.
"Thank you so much Herbert for removing the bullet if that boy dies it will kill my son." John Sr. already knew there was more than friendship between Johnny, Billy and Adam but Doctor Herbert needed not to know that now or ever as far as he was concerned. John Sr. paid Herbert in gold coin and saw him to the door as one of the slaves held his horse and soon the clopping of the horse's hooves faded into the night. John poured a glass of whiskey downed it in a gulp and went to bed beside his wife and all was silent in the old house. While John Sr. slipped into bed beside his wife the boys were dreaming and in one there was love and happiness in the other only pain.
Adam dreamed the morning was bright and clear in the little town of Washington and the three boys awoke fresh in the early morning light of the summer day. Adam awoke first and was confused at the nice room then he looked to his side and saw Johnny sleeping peacefully the covers had slipped during the night and his wonderful body was in full view. Adam's eyes wondered down from Johnny's smooth chiseled face and down his chest then lower to his waist and Johnny's smooth legs. Adam's eyes were full of wonder lust and felt himself grow hard. Then he felt the soft cock on his other side pressing against his ass and looked over it was Billy laying on his side with his wonderful body this was the first time Adam saw Billy's beautiful body and in the golden sun light he looked like a Greek god. Billy was smooth every where except for the light trails of black hair running from is navel to the root of his cock. Adam knew he was not dreaming and if he was he never wanted to wake up. Adam decided to get comfy between the two teens he moved slowly back against Billy's limp cock and slid his hand behind him and rubbed Billy's cock between his ass cheeks feeling the softness and the warmth while his other hand rubbed Johnny's smooth chest. Johnny rolled over towards Adam and Billy and threw his arm over both of them pressing Adam between the two boys. With Billy's cock resting in the cleft of his ass and Johnny's rubbing against his own boyhood. Adam could barely move if he wanted too but who in their right mind would want too and drifted back off to sleep trapped between two men he was powerless while Adam dreamed of lust and love.
Billy was in hell. He was sweating in the blue uniform of the 12th Maryland regiment loading and firing his musket long the blue line into the gray backs on the hill above them. Rebel cannon boomed spraying the line with canister and grapeshot shells whistled over head crashing into the supply wagons and tearing gapping holes into the line. Men screamed others prayed some could do nothing but stand there frozen by the events changing lives forever. Billy saw the steamboats on the river but they were powerless to help. The sailors could not train their guns high enough to hit the Confederates high on the hills. But the Southern gunners could hit them at will and so they pulled back out into mid stream cutting off any chance of retreat for in front of the blue line was the confederates behind them the river and on the sides steep gullies and swamps. There was no retreat only death or capture but what scared Billy the most was Johnny was on that hill firing at him. The battle raged and the world went mad men lay dying in the hot southern sun as the lead rain poured down among them was their hope at that minute there was no hope for no one. Why for God's sake did Sherman order them to attack here of all places he was mad just like Grant both of them stark raving mad. The black powder burned his nose and blinded his eyes but he continued to fire as men and boys fell on both sides of him friends strangers all of them dead or wounded. Billy reached for his canteen to get a drink of water as he pulled the cork stopper and placed it to his lips he found it empty no relief for his parched lips nothing but sweat and blood and the continued roar of the cannons and crackle of muskets. Hell on Earth had a new meaning "CIVIL WAR". Billy heard a high pitched scream and saw little Davie go down. "Oh lord not Davie!" The blonde haired boy and the Stars and Stripes fell into the dust. Billy ran to the boy's side. "Davie oh Davie", the boy was gasping for air and found none he tried to sit up but could not move his blood was soaking into the flag staining it dark crimson red. "Oh God no why Davie Why?" Billy cupped the boy's head in his hands and held him until the last breath flowed from Davie's lungs. What next? Thought Billy standing back up and picking up his gun slowly he fell back to the rear and continued to fire at the gray back soldiers on the hill everything now was a blur of smoke, fire and pain.
Billy could not get the images of little Davie out of his mine and every minute he thought about it he grew madder at the world. Young Davie never would experience true love never see his family again would never grow old. Hot tears flowed down Billy's grimed face but he continued to fire without thinking he loaded, aimed and fired over and over. Billy looked upon the top of the hill and saw an angelic face dressed in gray standing beside him another younger angel. Johnny and Adam only for a moment did those faces shine out of the smoke of the battle and all hate fell from his mind his two best friends well thought Billy my two best lovers. With that thought running hot through his mind. A musket fired and Billy felt the ball hit him in the chest and spun him around he gripped his chest and saw the bright blood and he collapsed to the ground the world fading to gray and angelic faces looking down he smiled as he slipped into darkness. Billy screamed.